Healthy Weight
Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight
If you are underweight, overweight, or obese, you may have a higher risk of certain health problems. Maintaining a healthy weight can help you control your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar. It might also help you prevent weight-related diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and some cancers.
Eating too much or not being physically active enough can make you overweight. To maintain your weight, the calories you eat must equal the energy you burn. To lose weight, you must use more calories than you eat. Being a healthy weight is about balancing what you regularly eat in your diet with how physically active you are on a daily basis.
If you are not sure if you are a healthy weight or not, why not try using the NHS Choices - BMI calculator to help guide you?
Weight-control techniques for someone who is overweight might include some of the following:
- Choosing low-fat, low-calorie foods
- Eating smaller portions
- Drinking water instead of sugary drinks
- Being more physically active
If you are underweight you may want to consider eating extra calories within a well-balanced diet can help to add weight.
The Isle of Man currently offers a Weight Watchers Referral Programme; speak to your Doctor or Practice Nurse for more details and to see if you fit the referral criteria.
Diet
- British nutrition foundation
- Association of UK Dietitians
- Food and Diet
- Change4Life Classroom Resources
- Eatwell guide
- NHS weight loss plan
- NHS - Eating a balanced diet
- Nutritionist resource
Toddlers and School Children
- Healthy Eating for Toddlers to Pre-School age: Infant and Toddler Forum
- School Food Plan standards
- Children's Food Trust
- School Food Matters
- Make Lunch
- Children and Young People British Heart Foundation
All ages groups
Physical Activity
Regular exercise or being physically active can have positive effects on many aspects of health and well-being. Exercise can come in many different forms, from traditional team sports to gardening, walking the dog, or active play if you are a child.
Not only can it help maintain and improve general fitness levels, it can also prevent ill-health. It also helps to tackle health problems, such as:
- Overweight and obesity
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol levels
- Heart disease and angina
- Type 2 diabetes
- Joint and bone problems.
It is recognised that physical inactivity is one of a range of risk factors involved with the conditions above.
